Survivor-woman? Not!

Have you ever seen that “Survivorman” show? The expert survivor guy gets dropped into various hostile environments and has to “survive” his way back to a pick up spot a week or so later. Of course, during his trek back to civilization, there are always bears, jaguars, snakes, poisonous insects and a vicious foot fungus or two to fight off. Scary stuff. And gross, too.

For food the survivor guy invariably ends up poking under a dead tree for a hand full of termites or scrambling to grab some greasy, roachy-looking beetles while extolling their nutritional value and texture. YUCK. He might even slap a pile of slugs between a couple of exotic cattails. Even in my own modern-day, motherhood-survival-type life, I can’t imagine going through a drive-through and ordering myself a delicious McSlug and Cattail Hoagie. Nor can I remotely imagine the speaker crackling back, “Would you like a side of termites with that?” Definitely not my idea of lunch. Not even if you super-size that side termites. No thanks!

Just in case there’s the tiniest doubt, let me tell you that I’m about as far from a survivor girl as you can get. I won’t even taste the garnish when I’m at a nice restaurant—not even if there’s fruit on top. I think about the most “survivor-esque” thing I’ve been known to do is to use my tracking skills to hunt down the stash of Oreos—while my teenagers are still in the house. Now that’s risky, man.

Life does involve taking risks sometimes. Risking rejection for standing for Christ? Now there’s a risk that’s not only a wise risk, but something we can and should do boldly and unashamedly.

Paul said in Romans 1:16-17, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; just as it is written, ‘The just shall live by faith.’” (NKJV).

Sharing the gospel of Christ in our own neighborhoods and around the world is powerful. It’s salvation power at work in the most faith-revealing way. What a miracle it is to see people’s lives completely transformed as they surrender by faith and embrace the righteousness of Christ as their own. Now that is sweet. As matter of fact, I can’t think of anything sweeter. Not even Oreos.

Rhonda Rhea is a radio personality and a conference speaker for events all over the country. She is the wife of First Baptist Church of Troy, Missouri’s pastor, Richie Rhea, and mother of five, three in college and two at home. She has authored several fun and fruitful books, including Turkey Soup for the Soul—Tastes Just Like Chicken, Who Put the Cat in the Fridge, I’m Dreaming of Some White Chocolate, and more. Rhonda’s newest book, High Heels in High Places—Walking Worthy in Way Cute Shoes is here! It’s just hitting the bookstore shelves. Find out more at www.RhondaRhea.org.